AI growth raises concerns for Panhandle agriculture
A University of Texas study indicates that data centers could consume 3-9% of Texas's water by 2040, raising significant concerns among agriculture and groundwater leaders in the Panhandle. Stakeholders are worried about the impact on the Ogallala Aquifer, farmland, and the demand for water and electricity. Calls are being made for greater oversight, long-term planning, and state legislative action to regulate data center development.
The expansion of artificial intelligence across Texas is prompting agriculture and groundwater leaders in the Panhandle to express concerns about the long-term sustainability impacts of future data centers on the region's water and land.
A recent study from the University of Texas at Austin projected that data centers could account for 3% to 9% of Texas's total water usage by 2040, depending on industry growth and cooling technologies. The study, titled "Water Use Requirements for Data Centers in Texas," analyzed the increasing water and energy demands linked to AI infrastructure, noting over 400 data centers currently operating or under construction statewide.
Jennifer McClendon, education coordinator for the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, highlighted the region's heavy reliance on the Ogallala Aquifer as its primary freshwater source, noting its constant decline. While data centers within the district must adhere to local groundwater permitting and pumping rules, the district is aware of only two non-operational facilities in its area. Jared Blankenship, Texas Farm Bureau state director for the Panhandle, voiced concerns from agriculture producers not only about water use, but also about the potential long-term impacts of large infrastructure projects, like data centers and associated solar developments for power generation, on rural communities and farmland. He emphasized the uncertainty surrounding future water demand from AI growth, citing a lack of clear consumption figures.
Both Blankenship and the UT study researchers advocate for increased oversight, transparency, and long-term planning. They urge the state legislature and elected representatives to establish "guardrails" for data center development, and recommend better coordination among developers, utilities, municipalities, and state agencies in water supply, power infrastructure, and land-use decisions. The study also called for improved mapping of water-stressed areas.